Giving an update on the status of the venue to Fifa.com last week, Sibongile Mazibuko, the executive director in the City of Johannesburg’s 2010 unit, said great progress had been made.

“The stadium itself is now complete and the sub-contractors will be handing over at the end of the month,” Mazibuko said. “The pitch and seating have also been completed … We are excited that this phase is coming to an end and we are happy with the work that has been done.”

The Confederations Cup – known as the Festival of Champions as it pits the champions of the six Fifa confederations, the reigning world champions and the next Fifa World Cup hosts against each other – will take place from 14 to 28 June.

South American champions Brazil, European champions Spain, African champions Egypt, Asian champions Iraq, Concacaf champions the United States, Oceania champions New Zealand, 2006 World Cup champions Italy, and 2010 hosts South Africa will compete.

It will be played at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park Stadium, Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, and Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in Rustenburg.

Ellis Park will host three opening round matches:

* 14 June – South Africa vs Iraq
* 18 June – Italy vs Egypt
* 20 June – Iraq vs New Zealand

The stadium will also host the opening and closing ceremony of the football festival.
Changes

Ellis Park has undergone major changes. The west, south and north stands have been revamped with additional seating and a new roof added. New change rooms, VIP, media and medical facilities and a new entrance façade to the north stand have been built.

A new, five-level car park has also been completed and will accommodate 1 200 cars.

The revamped Ellis Park Stadium seats 62 000 football fans, increasing its capacity by almost nine percent from the previous 57 000.

“All the building work on the stadium is complete. We are now busy with outside paving and putting final touches to the parkade area,” says the stadium manager, Paul Appalsamy.